Aladdin's adventure in Tanzania - July 2014


Hangover Heaven

Sunday 20th of July 2014 and I woke up with a raging hangover. No AC, the electricity is off because some maintenance on the road today. No electricity, no AC and that means New Cowboy Bar and Restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 22 in Bangkokno Hangover DVD. Actually it means no nothing and I took a taxi to New Cowboy Restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 22 for breakfast.

I had almost thrown up at home and I was almost throwing up Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stwhen I got out of the taxi. Where is Hangover Heaven Hangover Heavenwhen you need them the most?

I was soon having my first plate of bacon and egg in front of me. The breakfast at New Cowboy Bar and Restaurant must be the best in town, if you're lucky.

Aladdin is STRONGLY recommending that you speak with the Cook, she don't speak much English. But when she understands how you want your breakfast it will be hard to find any better New Cowboy Bar and Restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 22 in Bangkokbreakfast in Bangkok.

I finished my first plate of egg and bacon with home fried potatoes. I asked for a second plate. I could not finish my second plate, well, almost, but not completely.

I paid my bill and I took a taxi back home. I packed my bag and then I was in my bed staring at New Cowboy Bar and Restaurant on Sukhumvit Soi 22 in Bangkokthe ceiling waiting for the electricity to come back on.

Suddenly the AC came on again and I ACwas soon feeling much better. I had have 2 cold showers and now I was looking forward to have a hot shower. And yet again I wake up looking like a Sailor. A Girls name and a phone number on my arm.

2 showers and it was not possible to remove. I hope Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st I can remove the phone number before White Boardgoing to the airport. A wee bit embarrassing to walk around like a white board. Well, everything is prepared. Vitamins and snus packed.

I'm thinking about bringing my Canon 60D with me to Africa, but it is a wee bit too much to carry. Well, going on safari and the camera can come in handy. I'll see what I do.

Yesterday and my friends suggested a safari helmet. Of course, I have my sturdy safari boots so a helmet is a must. Must be possible to buy in Dar es Salaam tomorrow.


Well, time to leave for the airport. I sent a last e-mail to Authentic Tanzania Safaris. They will
From: Aladdin
Sent: 20 July 2014 16:25
To: 'ATZ Shabbir Office'
Subject: RE: Safari

Hello Emily

My flight confirmed. I will go to the airport now and I will arrive to my hotel tomorrow afternoon. You can book me for Tuesday morning for 2 days. The first itinerary you sent me. I will pay you tomorrow. Please send the address for your office and I can read it when I check in tomorrow. I stay at Holiday Inn. Is it far away from your office?

I also want to buy a safari helmet, yeah, I want to look stupid doing the safari. Can you recommend a place to buy a safari helmet?

See you tomorrow
hopefully Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st be able to direct me to a shop with safari helmets. My friends should have suggested the safari helmets earlier, then I should have had my Tailor to Safari helmetmake me a safari uniform. Just to make sure that I look real stupid Safari helmetduring the safari.

Maybe there are tons of them at the airport souvenir shop. And maybe everyone is running around with a safari helmet in Tanzania, then I will skip the idea to wear a safari helmet.

Maybe they have JUMBO sized safari uniforms for sale somewhere. And a binocular, well, I can't help but thinking about Friday Night something when they are hunting from a tree.

You must be an old Soulman

All the right safari equipment

And my good mood isn't all that good any more, DARN! Why should they mention the safari helmet yesterday? There won't be any problem (Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st Hopefully) to find a safari helmet. But a safari uniform, no problem. But in my size, mission impossible.

And I don't know how to approach the girl at Authentic Tanzania Safaris with the matter. Safari helmet is OK, but the uniform. Imagine this girl, receiving e-mails from the other side of the globe Authentic Tanzania Safarisasking about safaris, Victoria Falls, adventures and Mount Kilimanjaro. She is imagine me as an exciting HE foocking MAN. How to explain to her about my uniform? And when I step in to Authentic Tanzania Safarisher office tomorrow. HERE COMES NELLIE THE FOOCKING ELEPHANT!!

She will shit her pants, expecting a dashing adventurer and here we have the Human Balloon coming around the corner. Well, I will do what I can to find a safari uniform. And a flask binocular as they have in the video above would be nice to have as well. But then I would have to get drunk, just for the fun of it with the flask Bangkok Airport limousinebinocular. And that is a drama I can live Bangkok Airport Limousinewithout.

We left for the airport 5 minutes before 11 o'clock and I recognised the Driver. He told me that he had been taking me to Suvarnabhumi International 3 times already.

We arrived to Gate 7 around 23 thirty and I went inside to see if I could update my ticket to business class. This was not possible and I was disappointed. Yet another reason for me to never fly with Qatar Airways again.

• The first reason for me not to use Middle East companies is how they treat their guest workers. Qatar guest workersWe hear about Qatar and FIFA almost every day.

• And stop in the Middle east after 6 hours to change flight is a major inconvenience. You have just manage to fall asleep and it is time to wake up. 6 hours and a Rohypnol wont to you any good.

• Not possible to upgrade to Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stbusiness. OK, I saved a lot of money.

I went to Thai Airways ticket office to book a ticket to Sweden over Christmas. I have miles for a ticket and I have a voucher to upgrade to business class. Of course, it was not possible to use the voucher with a ticket bought by miles. Well, after 1st of September I need almost double miles to get the ticket. But I will also get 175% of the miles so it is almost the same. But I will lose for the miles I have now.

+++++++++++++++
Monday 21st of July 2014
and I had a noddle soup a the noddle restaurant at Suvarnabhumi before going to gate D3 to board Qatar Airways flight QR 837 to Hamad International in Doha. I was in a Flight QR 837 to Hamad International in Dohapretty good mood as I had made sure that the seat next to me was empty.

Boarding started 1 hour before departure, I can't remember ever having boarded so early. I was sitting in a row with a Thai girl at the window and I was in the aisle seat. And the seat between us was empty.

She worked as an Air stewardess at Qatar Airways and she had been home for 4 days holiday.

6 hours flight and 4 hours time difference and we arrived to Hamad International in Doha just after 5 o'clock in the morning. I had managed to sleep until 2 o'clock when they woke me up for breakfast
Flight QR 837 to Hamad International in DohaYet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- What the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st

I told them that I didn't wanted any food, I want to sleep, but now it was hard to fall asleep again. How stupid can they be? Waking up people that have managed to fall asleep on the flight.

I woke up when we bounced down the airstrip in Doha. I was thirsty, very thirsty and I could not wait to get in to the terminal and a pot of tea.

But we had to take the bus to the terminal and I had expected more from an Airline claiming to be a 5 star airline. Ok, they woke me up at 2 o'clock, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FLIGHT FOR BREAKFAST! Otherwise it was Ok, but no even close to a 5 star experience.

Hamad International in Doha
Arriving to Hamad International Airport in Doha

Hamad International in Doha
Arriving to Hamad International Airport in Doha

Hamad International in Doha
Throwing our bags at Hamad International Airport in Doha

I got out of the plan from the aft exit and I could hear the bangs from our bags being thrown in the baggage carts. Otherwise I always see the bags coming down from the plane on a conveyor belt. The luggage cart is at the end of the Hamad International in Dohabelt and a guy lift over the bag to the cart.

Here we had a guy half way up between the tarmac and the cargo hold throwing the bags to a cart a few meters away. Of course everything fragile would be destroyed.

I was not happy in the bus watching the luggage handlers with the bags. I could hear the bags hitting the bottom of the cart even though the doors to the bus was closed.

Seems like it is not only at Doha Airport they have a problem. There are more stories and videos on the internet about luggage handling at the airports.

Ryanair handling luggage
Ryanair handling luggage

From ABC news

Well, yet another reason not to fly with Qatar again. And the reasons are adding up:
• The first reason for me not to use Middle East companies is how they treat their guest workers. Qatar guest workersWe hear about Qatar and FIFA almost every day.

• And stop in the Middle East after 6 hours to change flight is a major inconvenience. Yuo have just manage to fall asleep and it is time to wake up. 6 hours and a Rohypnol won’t to you any good.

• Not possible to upgrade to Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stbusiness. OK, I saved a lot of money.

• The luggage handling at Doha airport left more than a little to wish for. (And as it would turn out, my Samsonite was broken when I claimed the bag in Hot tipDar es Salaam. A hot tip from Aladdin:
Pack your bag as heavy as possible, 20kg. Plus some kilos are usually allowed and the luggage handlers can't throw the bags. Of course, they can drop them from the airplane. But my guess is that there is less risk for the luggage to be mishandled.

Yeah, this was exactly what I wanted to see when leaving the airplane and my luggage behind. Well, Qatar Airways, 5 stars and I expected Hamad International to be something exceptional.

High end dining opportunities, I was drooling on the bus thinking about giant pots of Earl Grey tea Hamad International in Dohawith the best food ever.

There was nothing, one girl directed me to a restaurant but I was soon to discover it was some kind of breakfast buffet. Self-service and paper cups and plastic cutlery. And the buffet looked like someone had been dancing on top of the buffet. And who the foock wants to eat Dal or whatever it was.

Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stI left the place quicker than I had come in to the, yes, I refuse to call it a restaurant.

I went back to the Information and they pointed at the place I had just left behind.
- That is not a restaurant, I said
The told me that there were plenty restaurants, there was a Sea food place and a food court
- Food court, why am I not excited?

The food court was burger King and some pizza and I went for the seafood. I asked for a pot of tea and they brought me the smallest cup of tea I had ever seen. Gravlax and toast. I stopped Hamad International in Dohathem just in time before they started to Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stturn my toast in to dices. Who wants to eat diced toast?

I finished my breakfast and I had a tear rolling down my cheek thinking about Thai Airways with a service second to none. 51$ for a breakfast and I gave them my AMEX and I asked what happened after 10 minutes.
- Do you want me to cancel, the machine has hung up?
- No, why don't we sit around here waiting for 2 months?

Of course you should cancel and start over. I left for gate E22 and Hamad International is almost making it all the way up to Brussel’s Airport as the worst I have ever been at. Trotting and trotting just to discover that we will have to take a bus (again) to the airplane.

Yet again Suvarnabhumi International sticks out like a beacon of how to make a nice airport. I know, there are many people complaining about Suvarnabhumi, but they complain about everything Thai.

Most likely because they are disappointed, imagining coming to Thailand and all the beautiful girls should throw themselves over them. Reality, no one gives a shit about them, instant disappointment Hamad International in Dohaand the complaining starts.

Suvarnabhumi, no fine dining, but the restaurants are OK, trolleys for your carry on.

And if you have to go by bus to the airplane the busses departs from gate 1A, the closest gate. Why on earth do we have to trot all the way to gate E22 just to get a bus? The bus can depart from pretty much everywhere. Boarding started almost 1 hour after the boarding time on the ticket. And we had to stay on the bus for almost one hour. 30 minutes ++ before we left and then outside the plane.

Hamad International in Doha
On the bus, waiting and waiting....

Hamad International in Doha
On the way to the plane for more waiting

Flight QR 1347 to Dar es Salaam at Hamad International in Doha
Finally, we can board the plane
Maybe we were delayed waiting for them to shoot out the luggage to the plane with a gun

Flight QR 1347 to Dar es Salaam at Hamad International in Doha
Flight QR 1347 to Dar es Salaam

We have seen too many videos of Chinese people on board flights screaming and fighting. I had a bunch of them behind me and I had to turn around and ask what he was screaming about. I took my aisle seat and I had a woman from Tanzania at the window and the seat between us was empty, the Flight QR 1347 to Dar es Salaamonly empty seat on board.

This is how I like to arrange it before boarding my flights. And I would like to think this is the reason for having an empty seat next to me, and not because of the boarding staff feels pity for anyone having to sit next to me.

The Chines guy was 2 rows in front of me and what looked to be his wife and daughter was in the row next to me. The wife was screaming and shouting and I told her to shut up. She looked at me like I as crazy but the daughter told her to be quiet. It was all in Chinese but I think I understood what the daughter said. They were whispering with each other the remaining of the flight.

The woman from Tanzania told me it was the same story with the Chinese every time. She was Flight QR 1347 to Dar es Salaamreturning home from a business trip in China. There was an Indian woman carrying an infant in a back pack styles carrier on the stomach. She was in the window seat and the Chinese woman refused to move. I lost my mood.
- Move your foocking arse! Can't you see that she needs to get in to the window seat with her baby?

The daughter started to hit her mother on the shoulder and finally the stupid cow got out of her seat. Nice people and according to Airbus these are the people setting the Airbus airplane standard. And yes, I always try to fly with Boeing.

But now we were sitting on board a Airbus and we were delayed when we finally took off from Flight QR 1347 to Dar es SalaamHamad International Airport towards Dares Salaam in Tanzania. I was soon asleep, not much between Bangkok And Doha, and just as I had felt asleep they woke me up. 3 HOURS BEFORE ARRIVAL!!!!

We had left Doha behind and I was asleep when the Air stewardess woke me up. She didn't give up, she was jumping on me.
- Sir Sir Sir HELLO HELLO SIR! SIR! Your sandwich!!!
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st- What the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st is going on?

Flight QR 1347 to Dar es Salaam
Bringing refreshments

Flight QR 1347 to Dar es Salaam

Time was slow, I interrogated the Tanzanian woman next to me about Dar es Salaam, safari uniforms and safari helmets. I had read the inflight magazine 4 or 5 times. I was back in the galley talking with the Air stewardesses. 1 Filipina, 1 French girl and a Thai girl plus one girl that I Flight QR 1347 to Dar es Salaamdon't know where she came from. Well, anyway, I managed to kill 30 minutes with the stewardesses.

The asked if I thought Qatar Airways was the best airline I had ever been on.
- Well....

They explained that it was company instructions to wake up the passengers during the meal service. They had got so many complains from passengers that had missed the food.

Yes, when it is free people want, never mind what it is. The peanuts, a bag with 3 peanuts and the passengers are fighting over the bags. I always say no thanks and the Steward look at me surprised.

Well, Thai and ANA's service are second to none. When I wake up they are quickly at my side asking if I want my meal. If it is an ugly stewardess I say:
- Please, bring the food. And a few cups of tea, please!
If it is a beautiful stewardess I say:
- No thanks, I'm on diet. But please, bring a few cups of tea!

I read the inflight magazine Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st yet another time. Looking at my wrist watch, about one hour to go. Flight QR 1347 to Dar es SalaamThe overhead video show came to a stop and the flight map started. TIME TO GO: 57 Min

What the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st happened with the Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st“one hour to go” one hour ago. I'm about to go crazy in my seat. Nothing to do, nothing to read just to stare up in the ceiling. Seconds turned in to a minute and suddenly I could see Africa below us. We were passing the border between Kenya and Tanzania according to the sky map.

The woman next to me told me we were passing over Zanzibar and I knew that we were approaching Dar es Salaam. We flew in over Dar es Salaam and we came in at a strange angle and it felt like we were going to flip over. I looked at the Tanzanian woman and she looked at me, we never said anything. But we understood what we meant without words.
- Did we land or did someone shot us down?

finally, we're off the plane. We were on the tarmac and it was 50 to 100 meters to walk to the terminal. Immigration and custom and I hope Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st this will be quick as I really wish to have a hot shower. And something to eat would be nice.

Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
Finally, we are off the plane

Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
Leaving flight QR 1347 behind

Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
Immigration at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam

Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
Immigration at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam

I ended up in a queue and I thought it was for the immigration. Turned out it was for visa application and I was lucky to have 50 US$ in cash. I shoed my letter of guarantee from Maersk, but I needed a visa to enter Tanzania. Took 20 minutes or so and I had my visa. Now I had to queue up for the immigration. It was pretty quick and I was soon at the luggage claim.

The first thing I discover is that my Samsonite bag is broken. I'm in need of a shower and a meal and I'm for sure not going to hang around Julius Nyerere International Airport to make any claims.

I found the information and it is 30 US$ with taxi to Holiday Inn. We were soon on our way and we were hauling arse for, well, a few minutes. Then the traffic came to a full stop. I had interrogating Safari helmetthe Driver about shopping, Tailors, safari uniforms and safari helmet. Shopping closing around 5 o'clock and we would never make it in time.

I decided to cancel the safari tomorrow and I see if I can get a safari uniform and helmet for tomorrow. It was not much time for any shopping when I was finally in my hotel room. The traffic had been very slow from the airport to downtown Dar es Salaam.

I even think I had made the distance quicker in Bangkok. Took me almost 3 hours from I got off the plane until I was in my room, and most of the time was spent on the road.

Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
Leaving Julius Nyerere International Airport behind

Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam
My room at Holiday Inn

Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam
My room at Holiday Inn

Friendly staff at the check in and I liked my room. I was worried, I had booked my room and after that I had read the reviews. Poor internet and dirty. Some spots on the wall to wall carpet, Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaamotherwise it looked good. I hooked up my computer to the internet, it worked very well. I was satisfied.

I had a hot shower and I felt like a million, I was off to look for a safari uniform and helmet. Tanzania, famous for safaris and I was expecting them o threw safari uniforms and helmets at me from every street corner. I stopped at the restaurant.

I took a seat and they told me they were cleaning. So I went outside and I asked for teea and a grilled cheese and ham sandwich. Well, I asked for 2. I just sat down inside per automatic, coming from Bangkok and you want to sit in the AC.

It was 22 °C outside and it was very nice to sit on the terrace drinking tea watching the life in Dar es Salaam passing by on the road. I had two pots of tea and my 2 grilled sandwiches was served with a cubic ton of French fries that I could not finish.

Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam

I asked for the bill and I put it on my room. I have exactly 0 ZERO Tanzanian Scooby Doo dollars. Aladdin's adventure in Dar es SalaamAnd my first stop will be at an ATM

The biggest bank note in Tanzania is the 10,000 Shilling note. That is around 6 US $ so now you can imagine how the valet is looking like. If you have 200 US dollars in Shilling you can't close the valet.

I walked down to Samora Avenue, they had told me that this was the place where to shops was. They also told me it was too late at the hotel reception. And the girls gave me the address to some shopping mall outside the city.
Tanzanian Bank Notes
And they were right, at Samora Avenue it was closed and I looked for a taxi to take me to the shopping center outside the city centre.

I was actually surprised and disappointed. I had really expected them to sell safari uniforms and helmet in every street corner. At least some souvenir shops with some safari equipment. But here was nothing and I was soon sitting in a taxi.

We were soon in the middle of a bumper to bumper situation and the traffic was at a complete stand still. I must have looked gloomier and gloomier in the back seat. I realised that I would never find any safari uniform and helmet when we left the civilisation behind, slowly, very slowly.

It was pitch dark and a smell of road dust and bushfire. Yes, I think you know the smell, it is the same all over the world. I had been looking forward to my safari. But as soon as they had mentioned the helmet at Robin Hood the other day it become a fix idea. Safari uniform or bust!

I don't know where we were, it was dark and not much light around us. The driver spoke no English and I had given up the idea of getting my safari stuff. I had realised that I had to find them in a souvenir shop in a tourist area. And we were for sure in no tourist area. Well, I took it as a sight-seeing tour.

Downtown Dar es Salaam
Downtown Dar es Salaam

Downtown Dar es Salaam
Downtown Dar es Salaam

We arrived to the place almost two hours after leaving downtown Dar es Salaam. I spent 10 minutes at the place, nothing I wanted there and I was soon in another taxi on my way back to the Safari Uniform Holiday Inn hotel.

They asked me in the reception if I had found my helmet. I think they think I'm crazy looking for the helmet. When I checked in I called the guy at the Authentic Tanzania Safaris.
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - I don't understand the thing with the helmet
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - I want a safari helmet
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - For what, we're in a jeep
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - I want a helmet for the FULL experience!

For sure, I could not tell him that it was that my friends had told me to wear a safari helmet when we were drunk at Robin Hood at Sukhumvit road the other night. I cancelled the safari for tomorrow and now I'm here looking for uniform and helmet.

Well, anyway, back in the reception and the girls suggested that I should try the shop on the second floor. I went up to have a look. She told me that they had an “in house” Tailor at the hotel. He had finished for the day but he would be back tomorrow.

We checked the internet for safari uniforms and we found a picture. We printed the picture and I would come down at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning for measurements.

There were some pictures from Robin Hood last Saturday in my inbox when I was back on my room.

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Robin Hood at Sukhumvit Road Soi 33/1 in Bangkok

Robin Hood at Sukhumvit Road Soi 33/1 in Bangkok

Robin Hood at Sukhumvit Road Soi 33/1 in Bangkok

Robin Hood at Sukhumvit Road Soi 33/1 in Bangkok

+++++++++++++++
Tuesday 22nd of July 2014
and the called to wake me up at 6 o'clock. I felt asleep again and I woke up quarter past 7. I had a meeting with the Tailor at 9 and they will come from Authentic Holiday Inn in Dar es SalaamTanzania Safaris at 10 o'clock. I had time to write a wee bit on my web page before I left for the Tailor and breakfast.

This hotel, turned out to be a real adventure hotel. Breakfast 04:30 to 10:30. Yes, ZERO FOUR THIRTY. In house Tailor stand-by to stitch up a safari uniform or two if you want to go on a spontaneous safari.

And if you want to go they are ready with the breakfast at 04:30 before takin goff to your dangerous adventure, maybe to never return again.

I'm not sure, but this might have been the very same place Dr. Livingstone lived at millions of years ago. Reminded me of the hotel where we had our breakfasts at in Kathmandu, Nepal. The hotel where all the Mount Everest climbers lived. They left and you never knew if they were coming back alive.

I feel like that now, leaving for the BIG unknown. Will I be eaten by a lion? Raped by an elephant? For sure, it will be an adventure and I'm happy it seems like the uniform is arranged.

Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam
Will he be able to save my day and get me a uniform in time

Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam
Will he be able to save my day and get me a uniform in time

Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam
Will he be able to save my day and get me a uniform in time

Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam
Will he be able to save my day and get me a uniform in time

The guy from Authentic Tanzania Safaris came. It was not good, I was going to pay for the safari and I had asked him to see if he could set up something fun for Zanzibar, Kilimanjaro and Victoria Falls for me.

He had eyes the size of saucers when he saw me with half of the hotel staff trying to get a safari uniform. I could see how he was thinking “HERE IS MONEY” Well, he was soon gone again and I was off with a taxi to continue my search for the safari helmet and the long socks you see people Slipway in Dar es Salaamwearing at safaris.

We stopped at a place with some shops and I found foock all, next stop, the slipway. I had no clue what it was.

But it turned out to be some kind of souvenir selling stuff like they have on Sukhumvit Road. I was sure to find a safari helmet when I saw the place. Disappointment, I was in to every shop and I was about to give up.
- 2 shops down is the Blue Hunter, they have hats
- Thank you!

I left, The Blue Hunter, that sounds like a shop with safari helmets. Well, baseball caps and I left. I found a supermarket and I bought a Pepsi Light, the first in a very long time.

Slipway in Dar es Salaam

Slipway in Dar es Salaam
Slipway

Slipway in Dar es Salaam
Slipway

Slipway in Dar es Salaam
Slipway

Slipway in Dar es Salaam
Slipway

Slipway in Dar es Salaam
Slipway

I had a Pepsi light and we took off towards our last stop before returning to the hotel. Sea Cliff Village and then I would give up looking for a safari helmet. Well, I will have a walk around downtown in the afternoon looking. But after that, I will settle with a safari hat, the very same I Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.sttried this morning. They are using the hat as a sample so I will get the same material for my uniform.

Sea Cliff and we will return to the hotel, I made a deal with the taxi driver to take me to 3 different places and I asked how much he wanted for the ride.
- 40,000
- Not good, I said
- 40,000 is good, he said
- 50,000 is better, I said

The driver was about to drive off the road, well, I guess it is not every day he is offered more. Sea Cliff Village in Dar es SalaamWell, he was very happy when I offered him 50,000 Shilling. Sea Cliff Village, there was foock all to be found. Well, a Supermarket and I went in to buy some Pepsi Light before going back to the hotel.

I found a shelf with German health bread and I asked if they had Pumpernickel. The breakfast atthe hotel, well, nothing I was impressed by. Chicken sausages and stuff, and the bread was not much to be Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.stimpressed by. So when I saw the health bread I came up with an idea.

I will buy a beer/ tea mug and bread and I can dodge the breakfasts. The black bread and Sea Cliff Village in Dar es Salaamcheese are more expensive than the hotel breakfast, but we spare nothing in the name of my diet

They didn't had any Pumpernickel, but they had 500 gr boxes with different bread from Mestermacher. A Premium German Bread basket with 5 different health breads. I bought Dutch cheese a pack of Earl grey tea.

There is a kettle and tea on my room, but I don't know if they have Earl Grey so I'm better safe than sorry. Some milk and 3 big bottles of Pepsi Max imported from UK. I also bought some big water bottles for the safari. I paid everything and there was a lady loading my stuff in a Sea Cliff Village in Dar es Salaamshopping cart to take to the car.

We were soon on the way back to the hotel. I asked the driver to drive along the ocean. Beautiful white beaches. From a distance! When you come close you discover that the beaches are full of garbage.

It was a very good driver and he pointed out all points of interest and when I wanted to stop for pictures he stopped. If you ever happen to stay at Holiday Inn in Dar es Salaam I recommend that you take the hotel driver. No hassle and it is cheaper than having to wave down a taxi on the road and the drivers asking for unbelievable sums to take you somewhere.

Dar es Salaam
Driving back to the hotel

Dar es Salaam
Driving back to the hotel

Dar es Salaam
Driving back to the hotel

Dar es Salaam
Driving back to the hotel

Dar es Salaam
Driving back to the hotel

Dar es Salaam
Driving back to the hotel

Barack Obama Drive in Dar es Salaam
We make a stop at Barack Obama Drive

Barack Obama Drive in Dar es Salaam
We make a stop at Barack Obama Drive

Barack Obama Drive in Dar es Salaam
We make a stop at Barack Obama Drive

Kivukoni Road in Dar es Salaam
Kivukoni Road

Kivukoni Road in Dar es Salaam
Kivukoni Road

Kivukoni Road in Dar es Salaam
The port from Kivukoni Road

Kivukoni Road in Dar es Salaam
Almost at my hotel

Kivukoni Road in Dar es Salaam
Plenty taxi all over town

Kivukoni Road in Dar es Salaam

We had been driving back from Sea Cliff Village via Toure Drive passing Coco Beach. Then on Ali Hassan Mwinyi Road passing the Palm Beach to Barack Obama Drive. Passing The State House on to Kivukoni Road and we turned off at Maktaba Street and straight to Holiday Inn

I left my stuff at the hotel room, they had called from Authentic Tanzania Safaris and I called back. The hotel was full and they had booked us at Genesis Lodge instead of at the Tan-Swiss. They told me there wasn't any AC but maybe they could arrange a fan

Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - LISTEN UP! I want AC and there should be a clean shower in the room
Yet another Smiley on www.aladdin.st - I call you back in a minute

He called me back and he told me that there were AC, sockets with electricity for my computer and a clean shower.
- They will give you their best room!
- That's the spirit!

I left my room for a last try to find a safari helmet on foot. I walked around downtown Dar es Salaam for a few hours without any luck. But I had a good look at the city.

Downtown Dar es Salaam

Downtown Dar es Salaam

Port of Dar es Salaam
Port of Dar es Salaam - There is a big tanker so this is maybe where Roy Maersk will be

Downtown Dar es Salaam

Port of Dar es Salaam
Plenty garbage

Port of Dar es Salaam
Plenty garbage

I gave up on the safari helmet and I walked back to Holiday Inn. I passed a Woolworths to see if they had any socks reaching for my knees. Standard clothing when on safari, they didn't had any, but the girl told me they used to have. She went to investigate and she was soon back from the lady department with a pair of socks.

Perfect, but they were size 4 to 7, but I bought them and when I was back in my room I tried them on, perfect! I went for dinner in the restaurant.

Spaghetti and I asked for some “EXTRA” spaghetti and 2 butter nan. Of course a pot of tea. They brought me a foocking bucket of spaghetti, very good, but I could only eat half of it. I decided to never eat in the restaurant again. From now on black bread and tea in my room.

Well, at least until I'm back from the safari. But this time I'm going to be serious with my diet and I will stay on board Roy Maersk until I'm handsome.

They were late with my new safari uniform, but I was happy with the uniform. And it looked good even though I had to buy a safari hat. Well, maybe they have a helmet at Mikumi National Park tomorrow. In any case, I'm ready to take off for new exciting adventures.

Safari Uniform
Trying my new safari equipment

Safari Uniform
Trying my new safari equipment

Safari Uniform
Trying my new safari equipment

Safari Uniform
Maybe #1 handsome in Tanzania

Safari Uniform
Maybe #1 handsome in Tanzania

OK, so I have asked for a 6 o'clock wake-up call tomorrow and I'm looking forward to the safari adventure. And that’s even though they will most likely think I'm a “Doppel Idiot” in my safari outfit. Well, blame it on Robin Hood in Bangkok. Well, anyway, hang on! This might be fun!



       
                  

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? NJET PROBLEMA! Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Flag of Skåne / Skånska flaggan Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.


                                       

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